Fire on Chemical Tanker off Gunsan Eocheongdo Sea... No Casualties Reported

At around 11:38 PM on the 19th, a fire broke out on a 2,999-ton chemical tanker approximately 33 km southwest of Eocheongdo, Gunsan, and the Coast Guard is currently extinguishing it.

Upon receiving the report, the Gunsan Coast Guard dispatched a patrol vessel to the scene. Fourteen crew members, except for the captain and two essential crew members, were evacuated to the patrol vessel. All crew members are reported to be in good health.

At around 11:38 PM on the 19th, a fire broke out on a 2,999-ton chemical tanker approximately 33 km southwest of Eocheongdo, Gunsan. The Gunsan Coast Guard is transferring the crew from the burning vessel onto a high-speed boat.
[Photo by Gunsan Coast Guard]

When the fire broke out in the engine room, the oxygen supply was cut off, and the fixed carbon dioxide fire suppression system installed on the ship was used to almost completely extinguish the fire.

The Coast Guard confirmed that no flames are visible outside the hull, the hull temperature is gradually decreasing compared to the initial stage, and since there is no cargo on board, there is no additional risk of explosion or other hazards.

A Coast Guard official stated, "We are informing nearby vessels passing through the area about the fire and managing safety," adding, "Once the risk of re-ignition is eliminated and the hull temperature has fully cooled, we plan to investigate the cause of the fire inside the ship."

Meanwhile, as of 2 PM, the Coast Guard and the two crew members are monitoring the ship and its surroundings for any additional fires.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.